Bowling alley



L. G. SIMJIAN June 19, 1962 BOWLING ALLEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1961 INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJIAN Em; f3.

AGENT.

June 19, 1962 L. G. SlMJlAN 3,039,772

BOWLING ALLEY Filed June 28, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LUTHER G SIMJIAN BY Em; B. M

AGENT.

L. G. SlMJlAN BOWLING ALLEY June 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 28, 1961 FIG? INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJ IAN EM; {5. AGENT United States Patent 3,039,772 BOWLING ALLEY Luther G. Sinijian, Greenwich, Conn, assignor to General Research, Inc., Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Fiied June 28, 1961, Ser. No. 120,217 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-39) This invention relates to a bowling alley and more particularly concerns an arrangement which may be termed a folded bowling alley. This application is a continuation in part of my copending application for US. Letters Patent, Serial No. 790,246, filed January 30, 1959, entitled Bowling Alley, now abandoned.

The usual bowling alley has a relatively long narrow bowling surface with the pins located at one end of the bowling surface and the bowler positioned at the other end of the bowling surface. In bowling alleys of this type, the bowling surface requires a relatively long building so that bowling alloys are rather costly and difficult to build. Further, because the bowling pins are positioned at one end of the bowling surface and the bowling position at the other end there must be employed an expensive pin setting machine or else a pin-setting boy.

Bowling alleys of this type are not suited for home use since conventional basements are of insuflicient length to accommodate a regulation size alley and as a consequence thereof, bowling practice in the home for amusement or training purposes is quite restricted.

Several attempts have been made to provide some simulation of a bowling game by providing amusement devices in the nature of pin ball machines or using miniature balls and pins. None of these attempts have been particularly successful, primarily because of a lack of realism which is readily apparent when attempting to transfer the techniques and skills learned and developed in these substitute devices to regulation size bowling alleys.

The invention described hereafter refers to a bowling alley which no longer requires the length of the regular bowling alley to be in one straight line, thereby permitting installation of such a bowling game in homes and other places where a game of this type heretofore had been precluded. Still further, by virtue of the unique arrangement described hereafter, it is possible to use regular size bowling balls and pins, thus not deviating from the training and skill imparted by a regulation size alley.

I have conceived as my invention a bowling alley in which the pin location will preferably be juxtaposed or adjacent the bowling-position thus requiring the bowling ball to take an angular path. Naturally, the pins will then be available to the bowler so that he may set these pins without requiring a bowling machine or a pin-setting boy. Further, with the bowling ball following an angular path, the ball rolling surface will be shortened very considerably and will generally be less than one half the standard length.

As part of the foregoing concept, ball deflecting means are used which may take the form of one or more fixed deflectors. These deflectors are so positioned that a ball accurately rolled from a bowling position will be accurately deflected towards the pins at the pin location.

As a further particular feature of this invention, the pins will be viewed through properly positioned image defleeting means, so that the bowler disposed at the bowling position of the rolling surface will have an objective to which to direct the ball. Preferably, the hall deflecting means and the image deflecting means, will be one and the same, although they may be separate.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood,

and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the bowling alley according to the present invention in its preferred embodiment;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the bowling alley shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective end view, of a portion of the bowling alley;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing the construction of the shock absorbing enclosure which surrounds the pin position, the view being a section along lines 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an explanatory diagram;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of the bowling alley, and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an alternative design of a ball and image deflecting means.

Referring now to the figures and FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, numerals 11 and 12 identify two oblong rolling surfaces which are joined at their juxtaposed far ends by a transverse rolling surface 13. Rolling surfaces 11 and 12 are disposed substantially parallel to one another and in order to impart realistic training and exercise, are located together with the connecting transverse surface 13 substantially at floor level.

The juxtaposed front ends of the oblong surfaces define respectively a bowling position from which a bowling ball 14 is propelled and a pin position which is adapted to support the conventional quantity of bowling pins 15.

The borders of the oblong rolling surfaces are defined by gutters 16, 17 and 18, each being of such size and depth as to retain bowling ball 14 therein in the event that the ball is propelled in such a manner as to become a foul ball by reaching one of the gutters. In the preferred embodiment, gutters 16, 17 and 18 are sloped or inclined toward the front so that a ball reaching the gutters is conveyed to either the bowling position or the pin position from which it can be removed conveniently by the bowler without necessity of entry upon the rolling surface.

Along transverse rolling surface 13 there is disposed a pair of complementary ball deflecting and image deflecting means, reference numerals 21 and 22. The lower portion of each deflecting means comprises an opaque, hard, striking surface which deflects the bowling ball in such a manner that the angle of deflection equals the angle of incidence. The upper and by far the larger portion of the deflecting means comprises an image deflecting means 'such as a glass mirror or a mirrored metallic surface. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the two ball deflecting and image deflecting means are placed at 45 degrees with respect to their associated oblong surfaces and common transverse rolling surface.

The pin position is surrounded by a three-sided enclosure comprising sides 25 and 26 and aback panel formed by two complementary doors 27 and 28. Each door is hingedly mounted to its respective side by suitable hinges 31, is equipped with handles 32, and door 27 furthermore, includes a lock and knob arrangement 33. The doors used' in regulation size bowling alleys.

can be opened as shown in FIGURE 3 in order to provide access to the pins, particularly to set up the pins in proper order after a game has been rolled.

The construction of the sides and doors surrounding the pin position is revealed in detail in FIGURE 4. As is known, the ball when reaching the pin position causes pins to be thrown with considerable force. The enclosure therefore, has been so designed as to absorb the impact and energy of the pins if one or more are thrown thereag'ainst as well as to absorb the energy of the bowling ball in the event the ball jumps over the rear gutter 35. To this end, the side and door construction comprises a somewhat flexible liner 41 of plastic material, plywood or other suitable material, a relatively heavy layer of sponge rubber 42 or other suitable material for absorbing kinetic energy, and a final outer layer 43 of sheet metal or other rigid or semi-rigid material.

The operation of this bowling alley may be visualized as follows:

A bowler when standing at the bowling position faces mirror 21 and as he scans the length of oblong surface 11, by virtue of image deflecting means 22, sees an image of bowling pins 15 in mirror 21. The image of the pins as seen in mirror 21 actually is a virtual image and appears to be disposed behind the mirror surface, coming from position 51, disposed along a straight line from the bowling position to the first image deflecting means 21, FIGURE 5. The bowler therefore, views the bowling pins straight ahead. Upon rolling ball 14 from the bowling position toward this virtual image, the ball traverses the first oblong rolling surface, strikes the ball impact portion of the first deflecting means 21 and is thereby deflected for motion through the transverse rolling surface 13 until impact is reached with the impact area on the second deflecting means 22 which in turn, causes the ball be deflected and directed along the second oblong surface toward the pin position for impact with pins 15; On account of the parallel arrangement of both oblong rolling 'suffaces and due to the deflecting means 21 and 22 being positioned at 45 degrees with respect to the associated surfaces, ball 14 traverses both oblong surfaces in a parallel path, however, in opposite direction. While the bowling balltr avels along its actual angular path, a bowler viewing the image in the mirrored portion of deflecting means 21 sees the bowling ball reducing its distance to the pin position. When the ball finally strikes the pins, this occurrence is viewed in proper relation in the deflecting means 21.

It will be noted therefore, that although the ball travels a folded path, the view presented to the bowler is a H straight line and thereby gives the bowler the illusion of a regulation size alley, fully extended along one direction. Moreover, by virtue of the parallel disposition of the oblong rolling surfaces, accuracy and precision of ball rolling is preserved and any deviation from the straight path between the bowling position and the first impact surface is correctly reproduced when the ball leaves the second impact surface and travels along the second roll ing surface to impact with the pins. In this manner there is complete transfer of training, skill and experience when instead of the described arrangement, a conventional alley is'used. No relearning or mental compensation is required.

A modification of the bowling alley construction shown in FIGUREl is depictedin FIGURE 6, Instead of using the floor itself as rolling surfaces, a wooden platform 55 is disposed slightly above floor 56. This platform may be made from plywood or conventional hard flooring as 7 Additionally, a barrier or curtain wall 58 separates the two oblong rolling surfaces and this barrier together with the three-sided enclosure surrounding the pin position is of such height that a bowler disposed at the bowling position is unable to 4 of barrier 58 necessitates the addition of a further longitudinal gutter 57.

In both arrangements, after a game has been rolled, the bowler opens doors 27 and 28 and resets the pins at their respective location. in this manner, one person can readily bowl a game and subsequently set up pins without any assistance and without being required to walk the length of the bowling alley between games.

An alternative construction of the deflecting means is shown in FIGURE 7 wherein a rigid metallic plate 61 is faced with a mirrored flat metal surface 62 which simultaneously acts as an image deflecting means and a ball deflecting means. This unitary image and ball deflecting means is supported by a flanged member 63 which by means of suitable screws or other fastening hardware secures the deflecting means to the rolling surface.

It will be seen that the design of a bowling alley disclosed herein overcomes many of the problems encountered when attempting to provide a bowling alley for home practice, self-improvement, or when only limited space is available. Yet, by virtue of the unique design and construction revealed herein, the accuracy and feel of the game experienced is preserved in every respect.

While there has been described and illustrated a specific embodiment of the present invention and certain variations thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without deviating from the principle and intent of the present invention, which should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: V

l. A bowling alley comprising: a first and a second rectangular oblong rolling surface; a transverse rolling} surface joining juxtaposed ends of said first and second surfaces; the other juxtaposed ends of said first and second rolling surfaces constituting respectively a bowl ing position for propelling a ball and a pin position for supporting a set of bowling pins; a first and a second ball deflecting means positioned in said transverse rolling surface and disposed at an angle of substantially 45 degrees relative to the major axis of said first and second rolling surfaces so that a ball propelled from said bowling position and traveling along a longitudinal path through the first oblong surface is deflected at the end thereof by the first ball deflecting means and is caused to pass through the transverse surface to impact with the secondball deflecting means; said second deflecting 'means causing the ball to traverse the second oblong rolling surface in a direction which is opposite to the balls travel in the first rolling surface whereby the ball is adapted to come to impace with pins at said pin position; a set of mirror means disposed for reflecting an image from objects insaid first, second and trans-' verse rolling surfaces for presenting to the bowling position upon viewing one of said mirror means, an image of said bowling pins disposed at said pin position, and the viewed path from said bowling position to said pinposition as seen in the mirror means being representedas a straight line so that a bowler may view in said mirror means the image of the ball reducing its distance between the bowling position and said-pin position as the ball passes consecutively through said first rolling surface, transverse roiling surface and second rolling surface, and a longitudinal barrier dividing said first and second rolling surfaces.

2. A bowling alley as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ball deflecting means and mirror means are combined to form respective flat plates.

3. A bowling alley comprising: a first and a second rectangular oblong rolling surface disposed substantially at floor level; a transverse rolling surface joining juxtaposed ends of said first and second surfaces; the other juxtaposed ends of said first and second rolling surfaces constituting respectively a bowling position for propelling a ball and a pin position for supporting a' set of'bowl' ing pins; a first and a second ball deflecting means positioned in said transverse rolling surface and disposed at an angle of substantially 45 degrees relative to the major axis of said first and second rolling surfaces so that a ball propelled from said bowling position and traveling along a longitudinal path through the first oblong surface is deflected at the end thereof by the first ball deflecting means and is caused to pass through the transverse surface to impact with the second ball deflecting means; said second deflecting means causing the ball to traverse the second oblong rolling surface in a direction which is opposite to the balls travel in the first rolling surface whereby the ball is adapted to come to impact with pins at said pin position; a set of mirror means disposed for reflecting an image from objects in said first, second and transverse rolling surfaces for presenting to the bowling position upon viewing one of said mirror means, an image of said bowling pins disposed at said pin position, and the viewed path from said bowling position to said pin position as seen in the mirror means being represented as a straight line so that a bowler may view in said mirror means the image of the ball reducing its distance between the bowling position and said pin position as the ball passes consecutively through said first rolling surface, transverse rolling surface and second rolling surface, and a longitudinal barrier dividing said first and second rolling surfaces.

4. A bowling alley substantially as set forth in claim 3 which includes also means surrounding a portion of the pin position for substantially concealing from direct view from the juxtaposed rolling position the pins disposed at the pin position, while leaving unimpaired an image of the pins as viewed in the image deflecting means.

5. A bowling alley as set forth in claim 3 wherein the length of each oblong rolling surface is less than one half the length of a regulation size alley whose rolling surface is extended along a single axis.

6. A bowling alley as set forth in claim 3 wherein a set of gutters is disposed along the oblong rolling surfaces for receiving a ball which leaves the predetermined width of the rolling surface.

7. A bowling alley as set forth in claim 3 wherein a set of gutters is disposed along the oblong rolling surfaces for receiving a ball which leaves the predetermined width of the rolling surface, and said gutters being inclined toward said pin and bowling positions respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,949 Haskell May 21, 1912 1,163,432 Mason et al. Dec. 7, 1915 1,225,260 Lukacher May 8, 1917 1,569,260 Cahill- Ian. 12, 1926 

